63d Congress | 
2d Session ) 



SENATE 



Document 
No. 481 



WESTERN APPLES 



ARTICLE 



ON 



WESTERN APPLES: HOW AND WHEN 
TO USE THEM 



By 



JOHN P. HARTMAN 

SEATTLE, WASH. 






i 



. PRESENTED BY MR. POINDEXTER 
December 19, 1913.— Referred to the Committee on Printing 



WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1914 



.VI 2 



REPORTED BY MR. CHILTON. 

In the Senate of the United States, 

May 9, 1914. 

Hesolved, That the manuscript aubmitted by Mr. Poindexter, on December 19, 1913, 

entitled "Western Apples; How and When to Use Them," by Mr. John P. Hartman, 

of Seattle, Wash., be printed as a Senate document. 

Attest: 

James M. Baker, Secretary, 

2 



0, OF 0, 
MAY 2b 1314 



4v 



WESTERN APPLES: HOW AND WHEN TO USE THEM. 



It is a very common thing for an easterner to say concerning apples 
grown in the great Northwest that they are very beautiful, but taste- 
less. Usually both conclusions are true. The condition is one due 
to the ignorance of the public in knowing when to use particular 
kinds. 

Apples are exactly like human beings. Some mature and are at 
their highest state of usefulness much earlier than others. Some to 
fulfill their mission must be used before the 1st day of January after 
their growth, while others should not be touched until three months 
later. 

It therefore seems that the public should be thoroughly advised 
regarding the use of these exceedingly high-grade apples. 

I have been sorely piovoked more than once to find dining-car 
conductors placing before their guests beautiful looking baked ap- 
ples, but worthless because they had passed their season, therefore 
dry and pithy. For instance, in the fore part of March on the Michi- 
gan Central, I saw a Gano, which is a fairly good apple up to the 1st 
of January, but tasteless and juiceless in March. Pretty and fair to 
look upon, it is true, but without life or virtue or strength. It was 
like eating so much basswood. 

After years of experience, and consulting with all the experts, both 
growers and users, I believe some rules may be safely evolved, as 
follows : 

Probably the best late summer and early fall user for cooking is 
the early Gravenstein, while for cooking and eating from the time it 
ripens, about the 10th of September, until the middle of December, 
the King David stands very high. It should, however, run its course 
during September and October. Good tlirough most of November, 
if well cared for, has some life in December, but tasteless and useless 
the latter part of that month. 

The Jonathan and Spitzenberg are the very highest grade of 
western apples, and there is no better apple grown, unless it is as 
hereinafttr mentioned. They are ready for use about the middle of 
October, then being in a well-matured state. Under ordinary con- 
ditions, they keep well, and maintain all of their virtue until the 
middle or latter part of January. From that date on they are in 
their decadent stage. Their useful condition, as is true of all other 
apples, may be prolonged by cold storage. 

The Delicious, one of the best shij)pers, and good for all purposes, 
except for one who likes a veiy tart apple, is in its best stage of use- 
fuljiess from the middle of December to the first of March. It has a 
rather tough and thick skin, and therefore will stand rougher han- 
dling than probably any other apple grown. It is better, however, 



U \)£.£. £.\)l ;3VD 

WESTERN apples: HOW AND WHEN TO USE THEM. 



for eating thaii cooking, while the Spitzenberg or Jonathan are good 
for either purpose. 

The Rome Beauty is an apple of good grade, but by many con- 
sidered not so good as some already mentioned. It is quite a pro- 
lific bearer, and therefore much grown. Its period of usefulness 
may commence a little before the Delicious, and unless carefully pre- 
served under cold storage, will end by the first or middle of February. 
After that time it is liable to show a woody and tasteless condition. 

The NewtoAvn- Pippin and the Winesap are among tlie very best 
apples grown. The Newtown Pippin is regarded by a great number 
01 people as the best apple produced. It is almost green in color 
when picked, but it must then be stored away, and does not necessarily 
need to be in a cold-storage plant; but if kept where the temperature 
is not too high it matures in nice shape, takes on a golden yellow hue, 
is ready for use the 1st of January or even sooner, reacliing its best 
in February, and I have often had them in good shape, thoroughly 
juicy and fuU of life till the 1st day of May. For coolving purposes 
this apple has no superior. 

The Winesap is the best keeper of all. Of last year's crop, I placed 
12 boxes in cold storage for home use. I took the first out on the 
1st day of February, and found that it would have been better to 
have waited one month. The last were taken out on the 2d of 
July, and were juicy, of splendid flavor, and as good an apple as ever 
placed on the table. They are the best keepers, and should never 
be used until after tlie 1st of February. The better plan is to com- 
mence on the Winesap in March, and they may be used until the new 
apples come. On the 4th of July we had on our table baked Winesaps 
of the crop of the year before and early Transparents of the present 

The Department of Agriculture should thoroughly familiarize the 
great hotels, the dining-car systems, and the heav}^ users of our 
country in how to use tlte western apple. The States of Colorado, 
Utah, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Oregon have a large acreage 
of this delicious fruit, and are producing in large quantities the best 
apples known to the world. For want of information or knowledge 
how to use them-, often the industry is given a black eye. Were I to 
place before my guest a baked Winesap in November or a baked 
Spitzenberg in June, the crop of the year before, I would say that he 
had a right to be insulted, yet that is what our railways and princif)al 
hotels are often doing. A New York hotel chef thought I was a dis- 
agreeable kicker when I objected to a Rome Beauty placed before 
me in April. When I sent it back, and afterwards saw him, his 
remark was "no more beautiful apples in the refrigerator." I agreed 
with him that it was beautiful, but that was all, and reminded him 
that beauty was only skni deep. 

Circularizing tlie consumers would mean much larger returns on 
the apples investment, being done by proper authority through the 
department. The people want the fruit, but they want and liave 
tile right to expect good fruit. They can have good fruit if they are 
taught some of the primary elements of its use. 

o 



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